Foster May Enter Passing Lane

DeShaun Foster could slip past several storied names today and into second place on the UCLA career rushing list.

With 3,092 yards, the senior tailback needs 104 to overtake Skip Hicks, Wendell Tyler, Karim Abdul-Jabbar and Freeman McNeil.

Foster must average 128 yards over the last five games (including a bowl game) to pass leader Gaston Green, who had 3,731 yards from 1984-87.

There should be running room against Washington State. Oregon tailbacks Onterrio Smith and Maurice Morris combined for 423 yards last week against the Cougars

“We made sure and airmailed the tape, so DeShaun Foster should be licking his chops and be overconfident,” Washington State Coach Mike Price said.

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Middle linebacker Robert Thomas is on pace to set a school record for tackles for loss. Thomas, tied for fourth with 18, needs one to catch Carnell Lake, three to catch Donnie Edwards and four to catch Marvcus Patton, who had 22 in 1989. Thomas, a senior, leads the Pacific 10 Conference with 10.1 tackles a game.

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Washington State, like Stanford, uses a basketball player at receiver. And Mike Bush is better than Cardinal Teyo Johnson at both sports. Bush is playing football for the first time since high school, but no one could tell by his numbers. The 6-foot-6 junior has 34 catches for 702 yards and eight touchdowns. A senior in basketball eligibility, he led the Cougars in scoring at 15.9 points a game last season.

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Dave Minnich is not your typical Pac-10 football player. The Cougar tailback is a married 27-year-old ex-Marine with children ages 5 and 3.

A senior, he was highly recruited from Mt. San Jacinto College in 1999.

“A lot of people knew about him,” Price said. “I don’t know what hit here. I think living in Pullman, living in a college town and having a safe environment for his wife and kids was important to him.”

Minnich rushed for 754 yards last season and was off to a fast start this year before sitting out two games because of a leg injury. He came back last week and had 91 yards against Oregon, giving him 680 this season.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

When UCLA has the ball: Regardless of who starts at quarterback--Cory Paus or Ryan McCann--DeShaun Foster will be expected to carry the load. The tailback had a season-low 21 carries in last week’s loss to Stanford, when the Bruin line was manhandled. UCLA can take a tip from Oregon, which shredded injury-riddled Washington State for 446 yards rushing last week. Washington State has a conference-high 26 sacks, but the Cougars did not get to Oregon’s Joey Harrington.

When Washington State has the ball: Junior quarterback Jason Gesser has passed for 2,107 yards and 20 touchdowns. Tailback Dave Minnich came back after sitting out two games because of an injury to rush for 91 yards against Oregon. He has three 100-yard games, including a 195-yard effort against Oregon State. Gesser will try to exploit the absence of senior strong safety Jason Stephens, who normally calls coverages. That duty falls to free safety Marques Anderson. Redshirt freshman Ben Emanuel and junior Kevin Brant will replace Stephens, who has a foot injury.

Key to the game: Third-down efficiency. Against Stanford last week, UCLA converted only four of 13 third downs, including one of six in the first half when the Cardinal had possession nearly 22 minutes. Meanwhile, Stanford converted 10 of 16 third downs.

Fast fact: These teams have not met since 1998, a 49-17 UCLA victory.

The pick: Both teams are coming off their first loss and must win for a shot at the Pacific 10 title. The UCLA running game should get back on track, but Washington State has a more balanced offense. If cold, rainy weather becomes a factor, the Bruins will have a difficult time keeping pace. The edge: Washington State.

The line: UCLA by 31/2.